Bell 429 Tours New Zealand and Australia

By By Emma Kelly, Australia and Pacific Correspondent | August 20, 2014

Emergency Medical Service

Bell Helicopter distributor for Australia and New Zealand, Hawker Pacific, is undertaking a demonstration tour in the two countries of a Bell 429 helicopter in emergency medical service (EMS) configuration. The tour is the first time the region has seen the type in EMS configuration and comes as operators in Australia and New Zealand expand and upgrade their fleets in the face of increased demand for their services.

The helicopter is in New Zealand from August 11 to 21, after which it will head to Australia (September 1 to 19), demonstrating to potential buyers and EMS operators.

Hawker Pacific believes the type is ideally suited to the local EMS market, with its large flexible cabin, extra-large 60 inch side doors, handling characteristics and low cost of operation. The 5.78 m3 contiguous cabin can accommodate two patients and two medical crew, one patient and up to three medical crew or a neonatal EMS unit and up to three medical crew.

The helicopter also offers exceptional flight performance, he says, pointing to its fully integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive system and best-in-class WAAS navigation and IFR capability, as well as reduced maintenance costs.